Mali's Griots: Keepers of Empire in Oral Tradition
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the vital role of griots — the jeliw — in the Mali Empire. These oral historians, praise-singers, and advisors preserved the epic of Sundiata Keita, genealogies of rulers, and legal precedents from the Kouroukan Fouga for centuries. The conversation delves into how griots memorized vast narratives like the Sunjata Epic, their training under master jelis, and their function as diplomats and councilors at Mande courts. Lucas explains the caste-like nyamakala system that included blacksmiths, leatherworkers, and griots, and how oral tradition was not mere storytelling but a constitutional record. The episode also touches on the transition to written histories like the Tarikh al-Sudan and how jeliw adapted under Songhay rule and later colonization. A reflection on memory, identity, and the fragility of oral knowledge closes the discussion. #MaliEmpire #Griots #Jeliw #OralTradition #SundiataKeita #KouroukanFouga #Nyamakala #SunjataEpic #Mande #WestAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #TarikhAlSudan #MansaMusa #Jeli #OralHistory #EpicPoetry #AfricanCivilization Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
